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Get rid of varicose veins

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Play it safe this spring

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Is your heart aflutter?

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Ladies: Get screened!

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Secondhand smoke affects more than your lungs If you misplaced your keys this morning, don’t be so quick to blame your age. In

addition to affecting your lungs, new research suggests that secondhand smoke may contribute to memory lapses, too. When comparing the memory func-tion of a group of smokers to two groups of nonsmokers, scientists found that smokers performed the worst on memory tests, forgetting 30 percent more than nonsmokers who weren’t exposed to secondhand smoke. Interestingly, one group of nonsmokers—people who had been regularly exposed to secondhand smoke for an average of more than four years—forgot almost 20 percent more in the memory tests than the nonsmokers who weren’t

exposed to secondhand smoke. Avoiding secondhand smoke can have numerous benefits because smoking

is also linked to other serious conditions, such as lung cancer. For some, memory loss may be unavoidable, but keeping your mind active may help strengthen your

memory. Change up your routine and challenge your mind with new situations. Exercise, such as walking, and games, such as puzzles, are a great way to work out your mind.

What’s the beef? A juicy, pan-fried steak can sure hit the spot. But that delicious piece of red meat may actually increase your risk of prostate cancer by up to 40 percent. A new study examined the data of nearly 2,000 men involved in a prostate cancer study and asked them questions about the types of meat and poul-try they ate, how they cooked it and how well done they liked their meat. The results showed that men who ate more than 1.5 servings of pan-fried meat per week increased their risk of advanced prostate cancer by 30 percent, and those who ate more than 2.5 servings per week increased the risk by 40 percent.

Researchers think that the increased risk results from cancer-causing chemicals that are formed when sugars and amino acids are cooked at higher temperatures for lon-ger periods of time. To lower your cancer risk, limit the amount of fat you consume from animal sources, and instead eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and foods such as whole grains and beans.

Healthbriefs Multivitamins may lessen cancer risk

Ever wonder if that multivitamin you take every morning is actually hav-ing a health benefit? Well, for men, it may lower the risk of cancer, accord-ing to a new study published in The Journal of the American Medical

Association. The study tracked more than 14,000 male doctors, all at least 50 years old, who were

randomly assigned to take either a multivitamin or a placebo each day. After about 11 years, researchers found an 8 percent reduction in total cancers among men who took the multivitamins. However, the study found no impact on rates of prostate cancer, the most common type of cancer among the men in the study.

While the connection between multivitamins and cancer risk is still unclear, scientists hypothesize that multivitamins may help because they mimic the content of fruits and veg-etables, which have been linked with cancer reduction. Multivitamins are beneficial in preventing vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

2 Spring 2013

3Spring 2013

bring your heart rate down gradually.

Do use proper form to reduce your risk

of overuse injuries like tendinitis and

stress fractures.

Do use appropriate safety gear. Depending on the sport, this may mean

knee or wrist pads or a helmet. Make

sure your equipment is the correct size,

fits well and is in good repair.

Do accept your body’s limits. You may

not be able to perform at the same level

you did 10 or 20 years ago. Modify activ-

ities as necessary.

Don’t increase your exercise level too quickly. Build up gradually, especially if

you’ve been inactive.

Do cross-train. Not only does striving

for a total body workout of cardiovas-

cular, strength training and flexibility

exercises promote overall fitness, it also

reduces injury risk.

Do stay hydrated. Drink water before,

during and after your workout—aim for

about a cup of fluid every 20 minutes

while exercising.

While physical activity is key to

overall health, doing too much too

quickly—or without proper train-

ing or equipment—can take a toll on your

health in the form of an injury. But fear

not: You can help prevent sports injuries

by taking a few simple precautions.

Gain without painMiddle-aged athletes are particularly vul-

nerable to injury. Why? With age comes a

loss of agility and resilience, especially if

it’s been a while since you’ve been active.

While you can certainly gain strength,

flexibility and balance through exercise,

slow and steady is the name of the game.

To help prevent injury, follow these do’s

and don’ts:

Don’t try to pack a week’s worth of activity into a weekend. Aim to maintain

a moderate level of activity throughout

the week.

Do warm up before exercise, even

before less vigorous activities like golf.

Cool down after vigorous activities to

The game plan: avoid sports injuries

Injury symptoms Never try to “play through” pain. Exercising after an injury may worsen the injury. Sports injuries can be clas-sified into two types: acute and chronic. Acute injuries, such as sprained ankles or fractures, occur suddenly. Symptoms may include: a bone or joint that’s visibly out of place

extreme leg or arm weakness

inability to move a joint or place weight on a leg, knee, ankle or foot

sudden, severe pain tenderness or swelling

Chronic injuries, such as tendinitis or stress frac-tures, occur over time due to repeated use or overuse. Symptoms may include: a dull ache at rest pain when you play or exercise

swelling

Worried about an injury?

Call your doctor if you experience any of the

symptoms listed above.

70ner4 Spring 2013 • www.NERMC.com

Dear frIenDs, We’re almost mid-year and

Northeast Regional Medical

Center (NRMC) continues to

make advances in technology. During the past few

months, NRMC has added new services to enhance

the level of care provided to Kirksville and the sur-

rounding areas. We’re well prepared and positioned

for more advancements in patient care.

Growth

NRMC’s recent accomplishments include the first

vein center to open in the area. The Heart Center

now offers ablation therapy for painful veins without

the need for hospitalization, general anesthesia or

stitches. NRMC continues to expand its advanced

technology for cardiovascular and endovascular

services by board-certified invasive cardiologists

Dana Valencia, M.D., and Eliot Nissenbaum, D.O.,

and vascular surgeon Kent Blanke, D.O.

The new Women’s Center is offering same-day

mammography, ultrasound, MRI and, if necessary,

a biopsy can be scheduled immediately so patients

don’t spend unnecessary time worrying about

results. The Women’s Center also offers a specially

trained physical therapist who treats pelvic pain and

urinary incontinence.

Summer will be especially exciting with the

introduction of the da Vinci® Robotic Surgical

System. This is a significant arrival because of the

value it offers the surgical staff as well as patients.

Surgical procedures can often be completed with

less scarring, less pain and faster recovery. We

believe the da Vinci system will help provide our

patients with new surgical options and is proof

of NRMC’s commitment to provide the community

access to advancements in minimally invasive

surgery.

Compassionate care

At NRMC, we’re proud of the compassionate and

safe medical services we provide every day. But the

care we offer extends beyond our doors and into

the entire community. We’ll continue to focus on

exceeding your expectations in the hopes that you’ll

always feel comfortable recommending NRMC to

your family and friends when they need a hospital.

We appreciate the opportunity to serve you

and your family. Thank you for entrusting your

care to us.

Best regards,

Eric BarberChief Executive OfficerNortheast Regional Medical Center

ERiC baRbER Chief executive

officer

A message from our ceo

Learn more about the services at nrmc!

Whether you want to join our senior Circle or Healthy Woman programs or learn more

about the services offered at northeast regional medical Center, visit

www.NERMC.com.

70ner 5Spring 2013 • www.NERMC.com

Don’t let veins be a pain

There’s renewed hope for those suf-

fering painful, unsightly varicose

veins. Northeast Regional Medical

Center and the Northeast Regional Heart

Center have opened a Vein Center, which

offers patients an advanced procedure

called ablation therapy for treating vari-

cose veins without the need for a hospital

stay, general anesthesia or even stitches.

What are varicose veins?To counteract gravity, veins have valves

that prevent blood from flowing back-

ward as it's pumped back toward the

heart. Over time, these valves can weaken,

causing blood to pool inside the vein and

distended veins that result in the ropelike

appearance commonly associated with

varicose veins. This condition can lead to

a range of serious circulatory problems,

including blood clots, leg ulcers and poor

circulation.

Zapping the painWith ablation therapy, a small injection

is made into the varicose vein, which has

been numbed with a local anesthetic.

A very thin laser

fiber is then

inserted into the

vein and directed

to the desired loca-

tion. When the laser

is activated, thermal

energy is delivered, caus-

ing the vein to close. The

laser fiber is gradually with-

drawn until the entire diseased

vessel is treated. The whole procedure

lasts less than an hour. Immediately after

treatment, patients can walk and return to

normal activities.

“Ablation therapy is a great advance-

ment for patients and we’re pleased to

bring this medical advancement to the

community,” says Dana Valencia, M.D.,

a board-certified invasive cardiologist who,

along with Eliot Nissenbaum, D.O., empha-

size the convenience of a treatment in

which all procedures—from initial workup

to the actual treatment—are conducted

in the Vein Center. “Many insurance

companies now cover ablation therapy

because it’s become so well-established

as an effective treatment for varicose

veins. More astounding than the outpa-

tient nature of ablation therapy is that

patients can literally walk home after the

procedure,” says Dr. Valencia.

Varicose veins are a common prob-

lem—approximately 25 percent of

women and 15 percent of men in the

United States suffer from this condi-

tion, says Dr. Valencia. “Women are

more prone to suffer from varicose veins

because of pregnancy, and heredity has

been shown to be a contributory factor

as well,” he adds. “We’re pleased to offer

this new treatment, which helps men and

women improve their condition and over-

all health.”

Eliot NiSSENbauM, d.o.invasive Cardiologist

daNa ValENCia, M.d.invasive Cardiologist

Learn more!drs. dana Valencia and eliot

nissenbaum are board-certified invasive cardiologists and are here to

help you when you need it. to learn more about vein issues, call northeast regional Heart Center at

(660) 785-1991. Drs. Nissenbaum and Valencia are members of the medical staff at

Northeast Regional Medical Center.

HealthWise QUIZHow much do you know about allergies and asthma?

Take ThIs QUIZ To fInd oUT.

Answers: 1. c, 2. b, 3. d, 4. a, 5. c

1 All of the following are common allergens except:

a. pollen b. dust c. wood d. food

2 Anaphylaxis is:a. an allergy to latex

b. a serious, life-threatening allergic reaction

c. a type of asthma d. a minor allergic reaction that

doesn’t require treatment

3 Which of the following is a type of asthma?

a. exercise-induced asthma b. allergic asthma c. occupational asthma d. all of the above

4 Symptoms of an asthma attack may include:

a. wheezing, shortness of breath and chest pain or tightness

b. sudden numbness, especially on one side of the body

c. memory loss and difficulty learning new information

d. a bright red rash that covers most of the body

5 Asthma medications may include: a. inhaled corticosteroids

(“control” medicine) b. short-acting beta-agonists

(“rescue” medicine) c. both a and b d. none of the above

6 Spring 2013

If you’ve ever felt your heart

pounding in your throat dur-

ing a tough workout, you know

what heart palpitations feel like. In

fact, most of us have felt heart pal-

pitations at one time or another—the

heart flutters, pounds, races or seems

to skip a beat. While episodes of

irregular heartbeat are common and

often harmless, they can sometimes

signal a more serious condition.

Heart palpitations can have a

variety of everyday causes, including:

• asthma, cold and cough medica-

tions that contain stimulants

• caffeine

• fever

• hormone changes during menstrua-

tion, pregnancy or menopause

• nicotine

• strenuous exercise

• stress or anxiety

Sometimes heart palpitations

are a symptom of another condition,

such as hyperthyroidism, an overac-

tive thyroid gland, or arrhythmia, an

abnormal heart rhythm.

The beat goes onIf your doctor determines that

your palpitations result from

another medical issue, treatment

will focus on managing the

underlying condition. If your

doctor has ruled out other

conditions, the best way to

prevent heart palpitations is to

avoid your triggers. Try these

strategies:

Avoid stimulants. Limit

caffeine intake and talk with

your doctor before taking any

over-the-counter medicine or

supplements. Your doctor may

suggest changing your current

medication if a drug you take

regularly is found to be the

source of the palpitations.

Reduce stress and anxiety. Try exercising more, talking

with a friend or practicing relax-

ation techniques like meditation.

Don’t smoke. If you currently

smoke, talk with your doctor

about getting help to quit.

Heart palpitations: causes and treatments

If you’ve never experienced pal-pitations before, see your doctor to put your mind at ease. If your palpitations are infrequent and last only a few seconds, evalua-tion usually isn’t necessary. If you have a history of heart disease or have frequent palpitations, talk to your doctor. Call your doctor right away if you have: more than six extra heartbeats per minute or they come in groups of three or more

risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol, diabetes or high blood pressure

new or different heart palpitations

a pulse more than 100 beats per minute at rest

Seek emergency medical help if heart palpitations are accompanied by: chest discomfort or pain fainting or severe dizziness severe shortness of breath

When do I need a doctor?

7Spring 2013

Your best weapon in the fight against disease? Early detection.

Generally, the earlier a condition is caught, the more effective

the treatment and the more likely you’ll be to ward off any

complications.

Numerous medical organizations have developed screening

recommendations, and opinions vary on the timing and frequency

of these screenings. Because of your personal or family medical

history, your doctor may recommend a different schedule than the

one below. As always, talk with your doctor about the screening

schedule that’s right for you.

Women: screenings for you

Test What it does When to get it Recommendations from …Blood pressure screening

Measures the force of blood against artery walls

Age 18+, at least every 2 years Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure

Bone mineral density test

Screens for osteoporosis (weak, brittle bones)

Age 65+, at least once National Osteoporosis Foundation

Clinical breast exam Physical exam for breast lumps or irregularities

Age 20–39, every 3 years Age 40+, yearly

American Cancer Society

Colon cancer screening

Tests for colon cancer Beginning at age 50, women should follow one of two schedules:

1 Tests that find polyps and cancer: flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years, colonoscopy every 10 years, double-contrast barium enema every 5 years or CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years

2 Tests that mainly detect cancer: fecal occult blood test every year or fecal immunochemical test every year

American Cancer Society

Diabetes screening Tests for high blood sugar

Age 45+, every 3 years American Diabetes Association

Eye exam Tests vision and eye health

Age 18–60, every 2 years Age 61+, yearly

American Optometric Association

Fasting lipoprotein profile

Tests cholesterol levels, a measure of heart health

Age 20+, every 5 years National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel

Mammogram Tests for breast cancer Age 40+, yearly American Cancer Society

Pap test Tests for cervical cancer Age 21–29, every 3 years Age 30–65, Pap test plus HPV test every 5 years

American Cancer Society

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDLebanon Junction, KY

Permit 19

Northeast Regional Medical Center315 South OsteopathyKirksville, MO 63501

HouseCall is published as a community service of northeast regional medical Center. there is no fee to subscribe.

the information contained in this publication is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. if you have medical concerns, please consult your healthcare provider.

Copyright © 2013 Northeast Regional Medical Center

SPRING 2013Printed With Soy Ink

www.NERMC.com 70NER

Northeast Regional Medical Center is directly or indirectly owned by a partnership that proudly includes physician owners, including certain members of the hospital’s medical staff.Northeast Regional Medical Center is directly or indirectly owned by a partnership that proudly includes physician owners, including certain members of the hospital’s medical staff.

Be a Healthy WomanJoin Healthy Woman by Sept. 30 and register to win an iPad® mini!

We know women have busy sched-

ules and it’s not always easy to keep

up with friends and family, let alone

health information and community pro-

grams. So how can women keep up with

hospital happenings and Healthy Women

events? It’s easier than ever.

Check out the Healthy Women

section of our website. We have an email

program to keep women even more

up to date. And, when registering for

upcoming Healthy Woman events,

you’ll get a confirmation email. You

can even register your friends as guests.

Win an iPad miniAll woman who complete their registration

by 8 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 30, will be eli-

gible for the drawing to win an iPad mini*.

You can register for Healthy Woman

online and your registration must include

the following:

• name

• email address

• postal address

• birth date

Join today!to register for the Healthy Woman program at northeast

regional medical Center, visit www.NERMC.com.

Dance party coming in November!Celebrate Healthy Woman's anniversary with a dance party! Join our child health expert and rock ’n’ roll nutritionist in concert. Visit www.NERMC.com and choose “Jump with Jill” to learn more.

*iPad mini provided by Healthy Woman partner.